Vote at the mall? You bet!

Voters stand in line to pick up their absentee ballots in Doral, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. Christina White, deputy supervisor with Miami-Dade County, said the county also decided to accept absentee ballots for four hours in November at its main office. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

How Florida could reduce long lines to vote

As Political Insider Jeremy Wallace reports, Florida is looking at other states to see ways to expand voting opportunities and reduce lengthy lines and other hardships that discourage voting. Click through this slide show by using the arrows at the top right to see non-traditional polling places other states have embraced.

Early voting locations mimic retail strategy

In Nevada and Texas, elections officials say they are studying retail strategy and shopping behaviors like Starbucks or McDonalds would to figure out good locations to attract more customers. In Lubbock County, Texas (which is similar in size to Manatee County) voters have 20 early voting sites to pick from. If one has a long line, they just go a few miles to the next one where there may be a shorter line. By contrast, Manatee County had one voting location. (CLARK COUNTY NEVADA ELECTION DEPARTMENT)

In Texas they're voting in trailers

Voters stand in line for early voting outside the HEB grocerty store on South Congress Ave., in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 1. Texas allows voting in grocery stores, shopping malls and other locations Florida does not allow. (RODOLFO GONZALEZ / AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

In grocery stores in Nevada

In Clark County, Nevada and Lubbock County, Texas, election officials say grocery stores give them space for free in early voting because in brings in more customers and makes businesses feel more part of the community. (CLARK COUNTY NEVADA ELECTION DEPARTMENT)

Malls in Las Vegas

In Las Vegas, election officials say early voting in malls still produce lines, but voters seems less frustrated because they are in a location where they more comfortable. (CLARK COUNTY NEVADA ELECTION DEPARTMENT)

Voting in parking lots

In Nevada and Texas, election officials have temporary early voting sites where they have trailers they set up in area parking lots. The flexibility is a big reason why the Las Vegas region has 81 percent voter turnout, election officials there say. (CLARK COUNTY NEVADA ELECTION DEPARTMENT)

Outside of box retailers

Big box retailers in Nevada typically allow election officials to set up for early voting in an unused section of a parking lot. Clark County Election official Larry Lomax said the goal is to make it so easy to vote, that it is hard not to stop. (CLARK COUNTY NEVADA ELECTION DEPARTMENT)